A NEW railway station in Newport is to be granted planning permission despite privacy concerns from nearby residents.

An application for planning permission for the Pye Corner station in Rogerstone was passed with conditions by Newport council planning committee yesterday, with a proposal to allow officers time to add further requirements rejected.

Residents have complained that people using trains stopping at the station on the Ebbw Valley Line may be able to see into bedrooms and gardens, and claimed the consultation wasn’t good enough.

Officers have recommended that a screen or a fence be a condition of approval for the £3.5m scheme.

Chris Evans, Labour Rogerstone councillor, told the committee a station should be something to celebrate, but the consultation had been “abysmal”, blaming the South East Wales Transport Alliance (SEWTA) which guides local transport policy.

He said since money appeared for the project “everyone is saying it has been rushed”.

“If you had a nine-year-old daughter whose bedroom overlooks where trains will be stopping, perhaps you would be concerned,” he said.

Cllr Evans called for the application to be deferred for six days, with a ward meeting due to take place where residents and planners will be in attendance, but committee chairman Paul Hannon said they couldn’t do that.

Cllr Hannon suggested the committee could approve the application, but give officers permission to allow further conditions following the planned meeting.

Richard White, Conservative councillor for Marshfield, said “to maybe help decrease traffic in the area, the line needs to be open in Newport”, with trains currently only running to Cardiff.

Martin Buckle, secretary and programme manager for SEWTA, had argued to the committee that the scheme would help reduce travel times and reduce congestion.